By: Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl

By: Jason DeRusha

Tacos are kind of the official food of summer, and some are hot on their way to the Lyn-Lake neighborhood, because Lago Tacos opens this Thursday, May 29. Check out this sneak peek of what they’ve done to the former Heidi’s spot.

Jim Smart, who worked with Stewart Woodman to create the former Heidi’s space, was tapped by new owner Roger Burks to transform it into a taco-friendly eatery. After first launching a spot in Excelsior, Burks knew that he wanted to come to this neighborhood and jumped on the site when he saw it. It is a total overhaul, the space is nearly indistinguishable from its last iteration. Warm colors and clean accents were chosen over an obvious sombrero-theme for the joint.

The kitchen has been reduced in size and the dining areas have been opened up. The bar area has moved from the back of the space to the front, and it loops from the inside to the outside patio that has been built up.

The outdoor space has really been enhanced with that cork-topped bar that can be inside/outside and even glassed in during colder weather. There’s also a lounge area with a fire pit planned, and two long communal tables.

Margaritas are bar’s main game and they’re all made with fresh-squeezed juices and a variety of tequila. Tacos are obviously the play here, made with locally produced La Perla tortillas, and while everything pretty much runs main stream, there are a few new things on the menu that are different from the first location: BLT tacos with pork belly and spicy tomatillo sauce, beer-battered mushroom tacos with corn relish, pork confit tacos with guava BBQ sauce and Sriracha slaw, plus steak quesadillas, and a breakfast burrito. Here’s the big bonus, the kitchen will serve food until 2 a.m. Check them out for yourself, opening Thursday.